SOUTH AFRICA: Vaccine politics
Facing a backlash over its vaccine strategy, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration is scrambling to reassure South Africans that some 30mn vaccines are in the pipeline. Yet few further details regarding vaccination plans were provided at the latest ANC National Exec… Become a member to read the rest of this article Username or E-mail Password […]
SOUTH AFRICA: Worsening Covid-19 wave, slow vaccine action
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration has come under heavy criticism this week for its lack of a convincing Covid-19 vaccination strategy. While the government hopes to begin vaccinating healthcare workers by February, vaccine supplies lined up to date only cover a fraction… Become a member to read the rest of this article
SOUTH AFRICA: Reluctant return to lockdown as Covid-19 infections surge
On 28 December, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a return from ‘Level 1’ to ‘Level 3’ lockdown restrictions, which will apply until 15 January. While the government has been extremely reluctant to return to tighter measures in the face of extreme economic and fiscal travails… Become a member to read the rest of this article
SOUTH AFRICA: Treasury wins first public-sector wage battle
On 15 December, the Labour Appeal Court rejected an application by public-sector unions to force the government to implement their 2020 wage increases, the third and final year of a 2018 wage deal. A seeming surprise to both sides, the judgment represents a significant victory fo… Become a member to read the rest of […]
SOUTH AFRICA: Covid-19 resurgence
On Monday evening, 14 December, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced additional Covid-19 measures to stem the tide of a ‘second wave’ in South Africa. These are urgently required after Health Minister Zweli Mkhize stated last week that South Africa had officially entered the sec… Become a member to read the rest of this article
SOUTH AFRICA: Another ANC fudge or the beginning of Ace’s end?
While today brought slightly better-than-expected news on the economic front – with Q3 GDP growing at 13.5% q-o-q following the disastrous lockdown-related contraction of 16.6% in Q2 – on the political front an upside is not yet clear. Concluding a three-day ANC National Execut… Become a member to read the rest of this article
SOUTH AFRICA: NEC unlikely to resolve its Ace problem
An ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting this weekend will probably fail to resolve the thorny issue of whether Secretary-General Ace Magashule should step down over corruption charges. Magashule’s fight against a suspension will provide a signal of the ANC’s intern… Become a member to read the rest of this article
SOUTH AFRICA: Covid-19 resurgence fears but no new lockdowns
Today, 11 November, President Cyril Ramaphosa updated the nation on the Covid-19 pandemic. Concerns over a ‘second wave’ have increased, with the Eastern Cape province the epicenter of a fresh surge in infections. At least for now, the government is reluctant to return to more re… Become a member to read the rest of […]
SOUTH AFRICA: What Ace’s arrest warrant means
Today, 10 November, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI, commonly referred to as the “Hawks”) confirmed that an arrest warrant has been issued for ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule. He is due to appear in court on Friday, 13 November, to face fraud and corrup… Become a member to read the rest of this […]
SOUTH AFRICA: Is the MTBPS worth the paper it’s written on?
Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) includes a less “active” stabilization of South Africa’s runaway debt than promised in June. The government now makes even bigger promises on cutting the public-sector wage bill – a good signal but i… Become a member to read the rest of this article